diff --git a/blueprintcompiler/decompiler.py b/blueprintcompiler/decompiler.py
index 98e00af..2663a09 100644
--- a/blueprintcompiler/decompiler.py
+++ b/blueprintcompiler/decompiler.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from dataclasses import dataclass
 from enum import Enum
 
 from .gir import *
-from .utils import Colors
+from .utils import Colors, escape_quote
 from .xml_reader import Element, parse, parse_string
 
 __all__ = ["decompile"]
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ class DecompileCtx:
             return value.replace("-", "_")
 
         if type is None:
-            self.print(f'{name}: "{escape_quote(value)}";')
+            self.print(f"{name}: {escape_quote(value)};")
         elif type.assignable_to(FloatType()):
             self.print(f"{name}: {value};")
         elif type.assignable_to(BoolType()):
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ class DecompileCtx:
                 self.gir.namespaces["Gtk"].lookup_type("Gtk.ShortcutTrigger")
             )
         ):
-            self.print(f'{name}: "{escape_quote(value)}";')
+            self.print(f"{name}: {escape_quote(value)};")
         elif value == self.template_class:
             self.print(f"{name}: template;")
         elif type.assignable_to(
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ class DecompileCtx:
         elif isinstance(type, Enumeration):
             self.print(f"{name}: {get_enum_name(value)};")
         else:
-            self.print(f'{name}: "{escape_quote(value)}";')
+            self.print(f"{name}: {escape_quote(value)};")
 
 
 def _decompile_element(
@@ -253,15 +253,6 @@ def decompiler(tag, cdata=False):
     return decorator
 
 
-def escape_quote(string: str) -> str:
-    return (
-        string.replace("\\", "\\\\")
-        .replace("'", "\\'")
-        .replace('"', '\\"')
-        .replace("\n", "\\n")
-    )
-
-
 @decompiler("interface")
 def decompile_interface(ctx, gir):
     return gir
@@ -289,11 +280,11 @@ def decompile_translatable(
             comments = f"/* Translators: {comments} */"
 
         if context is not None:
-            return comments, f'C_("{escape_quote(context)}", "{escape_quote(string)}")'
+            return comments, f"C_({escape_quote(context)}, {escape_quote(string)})"
         else:
-            return comments, f'_("{escape_quote(string)}")'
+            return comments, f"_({escape_quote(string)})"
     else:
-        return comments, f'"{escape_quote(string)}"'
+        return comments, f"{escape_quote(string)}"
 
 
 @decompiler("property", cdata=True)
@@ -334,7 +325,7 @@ def decompile_property(
             ctx.print(comments)
         ctx.print(f"{name}: {translatable};")
     elif gir is None or gir.properties.get(name) is None:
-        ctx.print(f'{name}: "{escape_quote(cdata)}";')
+        ctx.print(f"{name}: {escape_quote(cdata)};")
     else:
         ctx.print_attribute(name, cdata, gir.properties.get(name).type)
     return gir
diff --git a/blueprintcompiler/language/gtk_a11y.py b/blueprintcompiler/language/gtk_a11y.py
index 2ad8097..a4c3415 100644
--- a/blueprintcompiler/language/gtk_a11y.py
+++ b/blueprintcompiler/language/gtk_a11y.py
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ def decompile_relation(ctx, gir, name, cdata):
 @decompiler("state", cdata=True)
 def decompile_state(ctx, gir, name, cdata, translatable="false"):
     if decompile.truthy(translatable):
-        ctx.print(f'{name}: _("{escape_quote(cdata)}");')
+        ctx.print(f"{name}: _({escape_quote(cdata)});")
     else:
         ctx.print_attribute(name, cdata, get_types(ctx.gir).get(name))
 
diff --git a/blueprintcompiler/language/gtk_file_filter.py b/blueprintcompiler/language/gtk_file_filter.py
index 8dcbcb8..482d6e1 100644
--- a/blueprintcompiler/language/gtk_file_filter.py
+++ b/blueprintcompiler/language/gtk_file_filter.py
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def decompile_mime_types(ctx, gir):
 
 @decompiler("mime-type", cdata=True)
 def decompile_mime_type(ctx, gir, cdata):
-    ctx.print(f'"{cdata}",')
+    ctx.print(f"{escape_quote(cdata)},")
 
 
 @decompiler("patterns")
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ def decompile_patterns(ctx, gir):
 
 @decompiler("pattern", cdata=True)
 def decompile_pattern(ctx, gir, cdata):
-    ctx.print(f'"{cdata}",')
+    ctx.print(f"{escape_quote(cdata)},")
 
 
 @decompiler("suffixes")
@@ -139,4 +139,4 @@ def decompile_suffixes(ctx, gir):
 
 @decompiler("suffix", cdata=True)
 def decompile_suffix(ctx, gir, cdata):
-    ctx.print(f'"{cdata}",')
+    ctx.print(f"{escape_quote(cdata)},")
diff --git a/blueprintcompiler/parse_tree.py b/blueprintcompiler/parse_tree.py
index 8f3ef31..fff6e4a 100644
--- a/blueprintcompiler/parse_tree.py
+++ b/blueprintcompiler/parse_tree.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 import typing as T
 from enum import Enum
 
+from . import utils
 from .ast_utils import AstNode
 from .errors import (
     CompileError,
@@ -573,14 +574,19 @@ class UseQuoted(ParseNode):
         if token.type != TokenType.QUOTED:
             return False
 
-        string = (
-            str(token)[1:-1]
-            .replace("\\n", "\n")
-            .replace('\\"', '"')
-            .replace("\\\\", "\\")
-            .replace("\\'", "'")
-        )
-        ctx.set_group_val(self.key, string, token)
+        unescaped = None
+
+        try:
+            unescaped = utils.unescape_quote(str(token))
+        except utils.UnescapeError as e:
+            start = ctx.tokens[ctx.index - 1].start
+            range = Range(start + e.start, start + e.end, ctx.text)
+            ctx.errors.append(
+                CompileError(f"Invalid escape sequence '{range.text}'", range)
+            )
+
+        ctx.set_group_val(self.key, unescaped, token)
+
         return True
 
 
diff --git a/blueprintcompiler/utils.py b/blueprintcompiler/utils.py
index 4c4b44a..25803d7 100644
--- a/blueprintcompiler/utils.py
+++ b/blueprintcompiler/utils.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0-or-later
 
 import typing as T
+from dataclasses import dataclass
 
 
 class Colors:
@@ -98,3 +99,57 @@ def idxs_to_range(start: int, end: int, text: str):
             "character": end_c,
         },
     }
+
+
+@dataclass
+class UnescapeError(Exception):
+    start: int
+    end: int
+
+
+def escape_quote(string: str) -> str:
+    return (
+        "'"
+        + (
+            string.replace("\\", "\\\\")
+            .replace("'", "\\'")
+            .replace("\n", "\\n")
+            .replace("\t", "\\t")
+        )
+        + "'"
+    )
+
+
+def unescape_quote(string: str) -> str:
+    string = string[1:-1]
+
+    REPLACEMENTS = {
+        "\\": "\\",
+        "n": "\n",
+        "t": "\t",
+        '"': '"',
+        "'": "'",
+    }
+
+    result = ""
+    i = 0
+    while i < len(string):
+        c = string[i]
+        if c == "\\":
+            i += 1
+
+            if i >= len(string):
+                from .errors import CompilerBugError
+
+                raise CompilerBugError()
+
+            if r := REPLACEMENTS.get(string[i]):
+                result += r
+            else:
+                raise UnescapeError(i, i + 2)
+        else:
+            result += c
+
+        i += 1
+
+    return result
diff --git a/tests/sample_errors/bad_escape_sequence.blp b/tests/sample_errors/bad_escape_sequence.blp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4b109c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/sample_errors/bad_escape_sequence.blp
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+using Gtk 4.0;
+
+Label {
+  label: '***** \f *****';
+}
diff --git a/tests/sample_errors/bad_escape_sequence.err b/tests/sample_errors/bad_escape_sequence.err
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e4ec183
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/sample_errors/bad_escape_sequence.err
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+4,17,2,Invalid escape sequence '\f'
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/samples/accessibility_dec.blp b/tests/samples/accessibility_dec.blp
index a603e25..eedb6cd 100644
--- a/tests/samples/accessibility_dec.blp
+++ b/tests/samples/accessibility_dec.blp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ using Gtk 4.0;
 
 Box {
   accessibility {
-    label: _("Hello, world!");
+    label: _('Hello, world!');
     labelled-by: my_label;
     checked: true;
   }
diff --git a/tests/samples/file_filter.blp b/tests/samples/file_filter.blp
index 3a52c3f..e9866d9 100644
--- a/tests/samples/file_filter.blp
+++ b/tests/samples/file_filter.blp
@@ -1,18 +1,18 @@
 using Gtk 4.0;
 
 FileFilter {
-  name: "File Filter Name";
+  name: 'File Filter Name';
 
   mime-types [
-    "text/plain",
-    "image/ *",
+    'text/plain',
+    'image/ *',
   ]
 
   patterns [
-    "*.txt",
+    '*.txt',
   ]
 
   suffixes [
-    "png",
+    'png',
   ]
 }
diff --git a/tests/samples/layout_dec.blp b/tests/samples/layout_dec.blp
index b0e66e0..3754fe1 100644
--- a/tests/samples/layout_dec.blp
+++ b/tests/samples/layout_dec.blp
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ using Gtk 4.0;
 Grid {
   Label {
     layout {
-      column: "0";
-      row: "1";
+      column: '0';
+      row: '1';
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/tests/samples/menu_dec.blp b/tests/samples/menu_dec.blp
index 14b4df3..44c244f 100644
--- a/tests/samples/menu_dec.blp
+++ b/tests/samples/menu_dec.blp
@@ -3,26 +3,26 @@ using Gtk 4.0;
 menu my-menu {
   submenu {
     section {
-      label: "test section";
+      label: 'test section';
     }
 
     item {
-      label: C_("context", "test translated item");
+      label: C_('context', 'test translated item');
     }
 
     item {
-      label: "test item shorthand 1";
+      label: 'test item shorthand 1';
     }
 
     item {
-      label: "test item shorthand 2";
-      action: "app.test-action";
+      label: 'test item shorthand 2';
+      action: 'app.test-action';
     }
 
     item {
-      label: "test item shorthand 3";
-      action: "app.test-action";
-      icon: "test-symbolic";
+      label: 'test item shorthand 3';
+      action: 'app.test-action';
+      icon: 'test-symbolic';
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/tests/samples/responses.blp b/tests/samples/responses.blp
index d7032a7..be8c03b 100644
--- a/tests/samples/responses.blp
+++ b/tests/samples/responses.blp
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ using Adw 1;
 
 Adw.MessageDialog {
   responses [
-    cancel: _("Cancel"),
-    discard: _("Discard") destructive,
-    save: "Save" suggested disabled,
+    cancel: _('Cancel'),
+    discard: _('Discard') destructive,
+    save: 'Save' suggested disabled,
   ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/samples/scale_marks.blp b/tests/samples/scale_marks.blp
index a766cfa..f75930c 100644
--- a/tests/samples/scale_marks.blp
+++ b/tests/samples/scale_marks.blp
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ using Gtk 4.0;
 Scale {
   marks [
     mark (-1, bottom),
-    mark (0, top, _("Hello, world!")),
+    mark (0, top, _('Hello, world!')),
     mark (2),
   ]
 }
diff --git a/tests/samples/strings.blp b/tests/samples/strings.blp
index ef237ae..08bb418 100644
--- a/tests/samples/strings.blp
+++ b/tests/samples/strings.blp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 using Gtk 4.0;
 
 Label {
-  label: "Test 1 2 3\n & 4 \"5\' 6";
+  label: "\\\\'Test 1 2 3\n & 4 \"5\' 6 \t";
 }
diff --git a/tests/samples/strings.ui b/tests/samples/strings.ui
index 1dea963..e7fef2e 100644
--- a/tests/samples/strings.ui
+++ b/tests/samples/strings.ui
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ corresponding .blp file and regenerate this file with blueprint-compiler.
 <interface>
   <requires lib="gtk" version="4.0"/>
   <object class="GtkLabel">
-    <property name="label">Test 1 2 3
- &amp; 4 "5' 6</property>
+    <property name="label">\\'Test 1 2 3
+ &amp; 4 "5' 6 	</property>
   </object>
 </interface>
diff --git a/tests/samples/strings_dec.blp b/tests/samples/strings_dec.blp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..576ddb4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/samples/strings_dec.blp
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+using Gtk 4.0;
+
+Label {
+  label: '\\\\\'Test 1 2 3\n & 4 "5\' 6 \t';
+}
diff --git a/tests/samples/template.blp b/tests/samples/template.blp
index fa2f041..fb019d3 100644
--- a/tests/samples/template.blp
+++ b/tests/samples/template.blp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 using Gtk 4.0;
 
 template $TestTemplate : ApplicationWindow {
-  test-property: "Hello, world";
+  test-property: 'Hello, world';
   test-signal => $on_test_signal();
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/samples/translated.blp b/tests/samples/translated.blp
index c7d4cd7..8c837d7 100644
--- a/tests/samples/translated.blp
+++ b/tests/samples/translated.blp
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 using Gtk 4.0;
 
 Label {
-  label: _("Hello, world!");
+  label: _('Hello, world!');
 }
 
 Label {
-  label: C_("translation context", "Hello");
+  label: C_('translation context', 'Hello');
 }
diff --git a/tests/samples/unchecked_class_dec.blp b/tests/samples/unchecked_class_dec.blp
index dbbfe14..d9df875 100644
--- a/tests/samples/unchecked_class_dec.blp
+++ b/tests/samples/unchecked_class_dec.blp
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@ using Gtk 4.0;
 
 $MyComponent component {
   $MyComponent2 {
-    flags-value: "a|b";
+    flags-value: 'a|b';
   }
 }
diff --git a/tests/test_samples.py b/tests/test_samples.py
index 226e762..a91a594 100644
--- a/tests/test_samples.py
+++ b/tests/test_samples.py
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ class TestSamples(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assert_decompile("responses")
         self.assert_decompile("scale_marks")
         self.assert_decompile("signal")
-        self.assert_decompile("strings")
+        self.assert_decompile("strings_dec")
         self.assert_decompile("style_dec")
         self.assert_decompile("template")
         self.assert_decompile("translated")